Page:Lars Henning Söderhjelm - The Red Insurrection in Finland in 1918 - tr. Annie Ingebord Fausbøll (1920).djvu/73

 that the Red Guard had usurped the power, fear of the consequences, the realisation of the fact that a social revolution was impossible in Finland, besides the terror of being either a participant or a non-participant—all this is plainly reflected in a lengthy article by Yrjø Sirola, the future minister for foreign affairs in the Government of the rebels, published on the 12th January. In many columns he first proves the slight prospect of a social revolution in Finland before such a revolution has taken place in the countries that are the chief strongholds of the capitalist system, and then goes on to say:—

"But though we are of opinion that we shall not in the near future be drawn into any social revolution, yet the situation may develop into revolution. The class conflict which now shows itself in the clash of economical interests, in local disputes, in quarrels over sheriffs' offices—nay, even in an armed guerilla war—may perhaps soon come to a head in a decisive struggle for the power. It is plain to everybody that the state of affairs will be unendurable when the interior situation grows worse and worse. Only the ruffians and the instigators of the reaction will derive any benefit from the spread of anarchy in this country. But order may be established either in a 'lawful' or a revolutionary way."

The lawful way is that of the party accepting a proposal submitted by the Government to the Lantdag for the establishment of a police force independent of the parties. The revolutionary way is that of the party overthrowing the Government. Sirola continues:—

"As I understand it there are now elements within our party that wish for such an appropriation of the governing power, and other elements that have no special desire for it. But above the question whether any of us wish this or not, stands necessity. The situation may develop in such a way that we must at least make an